Reaffirming months of rumors just hours before Apple's iPhone event, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that the next iPhone won't support long-term evolution or WiMAX high-speed 4G data networks.

Citing people familiar with Apple's plans, the report revealed that Apple's phone will not be compatible with the fastest speed 4G networks. Instead, the so-called "iPhone 5" will operate on the same 3G networks that its predecessor, the iPhone 4, does.

The report also made mention that in the U.S., carrier AT&T advertises its HSPA+ network, which is still technically third-generation technology, has having "4G-like speeds." It did not say whether the next iPhone will support HSPA+, but last month carrier China Unicom let slip that the iPhone 5 is expected to support HSPA+ 21Mbps download speeds.

That's faster than the WCDMA 7.2Mbps theoretical download speeds that have been featured on Apple's handsets since the iPhone 3G, including the iPhone 4 first released in 2010.

In the U.S., both AT&T and Verizon, currently the only two iPhone carriers in the country, are rolling out their own "true" 4G LTE networks. Apple is expected to add Sprint as a carrier for the launch of the iPhone 5; Sprint has its own 4G network powered by WiMAX, a different wireless technology.

The iPhone 5 apparently will not feature 4G network speeds even as competing devices running the Google Android operating system have embraced the technology. But rumors throughout the year have been consistent in saying that the next iPhone will not support 4G networks, even as Apple's competition chooses to do so.

Earlier this year, Apple CEO Tim Cook indicated that he is in no rush to bring 4G LTE to the iPhone. While the company has explored its options with LTE, Cook said poor battery life with LTE devices led Apple to pass on 4G technology when it launched its CDMA iPhone on Verizon in February.

Apple will officially announce its fifth-generation iPhone in a media event today at 10 a.m. Pacific, 1 p.m. Eastern. AppleInsider will have full live coverage.

Makes sense. Most of the rest of the world doesn't have functional LTE either.

There are pockets of LTE, notably in Scandinavia and Germany. The UK, for example, hasn't even started auctioning off spectrum for 4G services yet, meaning they are probably still a couple of years away from a commercial deployment. The world has focused on deploying HSPA+ networks over the past year or two, many of these are in their second, third, or fourth iterations. So, the fifth generation iPhone would logically support HSPA+, not LTE nor WiMAX (the latter is a dead end).

It's a shame that none of these articles address what the rest of the world is doing, they're hopelessly stuck in an all-American worldview, oblivious to the fact that Apple makes over half of its iPhone revenue from international markets.

Reaffirming months of rumors just hours before Apple's iPhone event, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday that the next iPhone won't support long-term evolution or WiMAX high-speed 4G data networks.

Hmmm, not so comfortable with this. I wouldn't feel happy taking out a long term contract as the latest high speed networks proliferate within the next six months or so. Especially if I lived in a city that has the latest high-speed networks now - whatever you want to cal them, 4G/LTE/WIMAX/PFF ?

Hmmm, not so comfortable with this. I wouldn't feel happy taking out a long term contract as the latest high speed networks proliferate within the next six months or so. Especially if I lived in a city that has the latest high-speed networks now - whatever you want to cal them, 4G/LTE/WIMAX/PFF ?

And in two years when phones that can be used for more than two hours on LTE come out, you'll think yourself a fool for desiring one now.

The iPhone 5 apparently will not feature 4G network speeds even as competing devices running the Google Android operating system have embraced the technology.

Wow. That is a bold move by Apple.

Does this mean a new iPhone next June?

By next fall, will there be a premium phone by any manufacturer (except Apple) that fails to include fast data connections?

Amazing. I don't get it.

I'm leaning towards i5 coming out next spring, with a 4S now. That way Apple can sell now and sell later. That is their usual strategy with new devices. They sell a stripped down model to the early adopters, and follow it up shortly with a full(er) featured mass-market product that the EAs buy a second time. Are they extending that strategy to mature products too?

It's a shame that none of these articles address what the rest of the world is doing, they're hopelessly stuck in an all-American worldview, oblivious to the fact that Apple makes over half of its iPhone revenue from international markets.

As an American, I will have you know that the world stops existing at our border. Except for the occasional rift in space/time that creates a small oil rich country for us to use as bombing practice. Spread your "international" lies elsewhere.

OSX, because making UNIX user friendly is easier than debugging windows.

Bet you were one of the ones whining that the first-gen didn't have 3G.

Except if a 4S exists now, there can't be an "iPhone 5" later.

No, but I was one of the ones who had zero interest in paying full boat retail for a phone that did not include it. I was amazed then, and I am amazed now.

Apple soon followed up with a 3G phone, reselling new phones to the early adopters. All I can imagine is that they will repeat the "sell two products to the same customer" strategy once again by soon coming out with a 4G phone.

Why can't there be an i5 later if all that gets released now is a rehashed i4?

No LTE presence in any meaningful amount anywhere in the world.
No LTE chips that allow for anywhere near decent battery life.

Bet you were one of the ones whining that the first-gen didn't have 3G.

Actually, VZ has LTE in most of the large cities in the US. Granted if you're out in the country somewhere you're still out of luck. There's really good coverage of it here in Atlanta.

The chips are a drain, but in all of the android phones that I've seen, you can turn the LTE radio off when you're not actively using the connection and save on battery life that way. Not an ideal solution, but it works.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallest Skil

Except if a 4S exists now, there can't be an "iPhone 5" later.

Sure there can. What do you think they'd call it? This makes no sense.

Which obviously comprises the entire planet and the only place Apple sells iPhones.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ConradJoe

Why can't there be an i5 later if all that gets released now is a rehashed i4?

Quote:

Sure there can. What do you think they'd call it? This makes no sense.

Uh, iPhone 6. Because it would be the sixth model.

"Hey, guys."

"Hey, Mr. Cook."

"Working on the new iPhone, I see."

"Yep, we just need a name for this SIXTH iteration of our iPhone hardware that has the ASIX chip inside and is running iOS SIX."

"Let me just check something."

"?"

"Welp, people on rumor forums who don't seem to understand the progression of the numbers one through ten want it to be called the iPhone 5, even though there's absolutely nothing about it physically nor anything about its features that would warrant it being called that."

"Yep, we just need a name for this SIXTH iteration of our iPhone hardware that has the ASIX chip inside and is running iOS SIX."

"Let me just check something."

"…?"

"Welp, people on rumor forums who don't seem to understand the progression of the numbers one through ten want it to be called the iPhone 5, even though there's absolutely nothing about it physically nor anything about its features that would warrant it being called that."

"…"

"Well, get to it."

I am truly grateful that Apple doesn't use this bboard (and other tech media site forums) as "market research."

And in two years when phones that can be used for more than two hours on LTE come out, you'll think yourself a fool for desiring one now.

Not very accurate.......I have a Droid Bionic on Verizon LTE and get download speeds of 15MB and my battery lasts 14 to 18 hours depending on how much I use it that day......
Verizon 4G LTE...http://network4g.verizonwireless.com/#/coverage

Tallest Skil:

"Eventually Google will have their Afghanistan with Oracle and collapse" "The future is Apple, Google, and a third company that hasn't yet been created."

I have to assume Apple feels 4G technology has not matured to the point where they feel they can include it in their handsets without causing something about the user experience to degrade. Hasn't that always been their standard, anyway? Seems it's always been "don't degrade the user experience". Whether at this point it's battery life or handset size (or both), I don't know.

My guess is we'll see an LTE iPhone as soon as the next generation of chipsets are out there which overcome the negatives.

I'm certain in a couple of hours we will have a better idea as to Apples intentions. However I'm certain that software will be a driving force in Apple hardware.

Quote:

By next fall, will there be a premium phone by any manufacturer (except Apple) that fails to include fast data connections?

By premium do you mean fat and heavy? I don't get this obsession with the term premium anyways, it isn't about the hardware it is the software that sets iPhone apart.

Quote:

Amazing. I don't get it.

Yes that is obvious!!!!

Quote:

I'm leaning towards i5 coming out next spring, with a 4S now. That way Apple can sell now and sell later. That is their usual strategy with new devices. They sell a stripped down model to the early adopters, and follow it up shortly with a full(er) featured mass-market product that the EAs buy a second time. Are they extending that strategy to mature products too?

I really don't know what you are talking about above. Apple can only build iPhones based on the technology available to them at the time. The next gen iPhones likely won't have LTE because the technology isn't there yet. Pretty simple really.

i see no need to update my 3gs until an LTE version of the iPhone comes out. the 3gs does everything i need it to do. the wife has the 4 and outside of Facetime, everything seems the same to me. better camera? eh... not my thing. i prefer Apple take their time and make a great LTE phone. doesn't matter how long it takes.

Over the last several months AT&T has been lighting up there HSPA+ network from where it was at the start of this past summer... heck it's now active where I live. I view this as a better point for AT&T and perhaps a token from Apple as thank you for taking a risk with them... while not a true 4G it is a step forward rather than backwards with a CDMA network... perhaps this is why Verizon is on Samsung side feeling a little slighted...

By next fall, will there be a premium phone by any manufacturer (except Apple) that fails to include fast data connections?

Amazing. I don't get it.

This is the same type of commentary that preceded 3G on the iphone (many people said they wouldn't buy it until it had 3G). I'm not sure leaving this out would really stifle sales anyway. Regarding iphone hardware, when has it ever been in the lead in terms of hardware? It simply functions exceptionally well as a complete system with a few quirks, none of which are that bad.

I really don't know what you are talking about above. Apple can only build iPhones based on the technology available to them at the time. The next gen iPhones likely won't have LTE because the technology isn't there yet. Pretty simple really.

The first iPhone did not have 3G, even thought "the technology [was] available to them at the time".

The first iPad did not have a camera, even thought "the technology [was] available to them at the time".

That is what I am talking about. Apple routinely issues new products that are missing basic, obvious capabilities, only to follow up shortly with a product including the missing stuff. ISTM that they do NOT do that because "the technology [is not] available to them at the time".

All I can guess is that they take their most rabid customers as fools.

I have an iPhone 3G that's been used as an iPod touch since January. I have a Samsung Messager (that IS the "correct" spelling, according to Cricket) that is a huge POS. I'm ready to jump back into a new iPhone, but it has to...

...be on Sprint's WiMAX 4G network. (for a few reasons I won't get into)
...have AT LEAST a 4" screen.
...have a dual-core processor.

Regarding iphone hardware, when has it ever been in the lead in terms of hardware?.

Every single iPhone ever released has been cutting edge. First one was a revolution. Back in the day, what was more cutting edge than the 3GS? Even the most recent one had a cutting edge screen, the "Retina Display".

If they just rehash an old design and fail to even catch up to the Galaxy SII et. al., it will mark a departure from their previous strategy.

This is the same type of commentary that preceded 3G on the iphone (many people said they wouldn't buy it until it had 3G). I'm not sure leaving this out would really stifle sales anyway. Regarding iphone hardware, when has it ever been in the lead in terms of hardware? It simply functions exceptionally well as a complete system with a few quirks, none of which are that bad.

The leap between 2G and 3G was so big that the lack of 3G did put a lot of people off purchasing the original iPhone (at least here in the UK).

I don't think that the difference in experience between 3G and these 3.75G/3.9G technologies is so big.

2G to 3G was like going between VHS and DVD. 3G to HSPA+/LTE is like going between DVD and Blu-Ray. Most people won't be able to tell the difference using today's services.

Every single iPhone ever released has been cutting edge. First one was a revolution. Back in the day, what was more cutting edge than the 3GS? Even the most recent one had a cutting edge screen, the "Retina Display".

If they just rehash an old design and fail to even catch up to the Galaxy SII et. al., it will mark a departure from their previous strategy.

There will be some interesting things I'm sure...

But I feel this is more of a 3G/3GS type upgrade than a 3GS/4 upgrade.

Like someone else said, this is mainly meant to attract the 3GS holders and newcomers.